Perspectives

On this page, we will present some of our candidate's perspectives on different topics and questions that may be of concern to the voters of the 13th Legislative District. It will not be
exhaustive and we'll not be able to address every question website visitors may have, but hopefully this page will shed some valuable light on Danny Stone's positions and ideas as he seeks
to serve the voters of the 13th Legislative District in Olympia.

Item 1 - The "Carpet-bagging" Question

Some may say, "Hey, didn't you run for the House in the 12th Legislative District?" Yes, I did. In fact, I felt so
strongly about seeking this appointment, that I've moved my place of residence from my farmstead back to our family's house in the town of Almira. On October 8th, I again became a 13th Legislative
District resident and voter. Yes it's been a hassle, but I've done it and feel strongly it's the right thing.

Four years ago, I moved to the 12th LD from Almira because my elderly parents needed to move to town, so we swapped
houses. My father has since passed and my mother has moved to Spokane. Now, to clarify, our farmstead is less than two miles inside the 12th Legislative District's border which is also the
Grant/Lincoln County line. After we moved, it was then that I began working with the Grant County Republicans. I had been serving as a PCO with the Lincoln County Republicans. You see, I was born and
raised in the 13th Legislative District, went all 12 years of school in the 13th, have lived 20 years in the 13th, and was chair of the GOP in Grant County which lies almost entirely in the 13th.
Only three current PCO's in Grant County live in the 12th, so most of those I worked with as Chair were 13th LD folks.

In my business, the majority of our farm ground is in the 13th LD. 1700+ acres of my family's farmland is in the 13th LD
with only 230 acres and a farmstead lying in the 12th. The grain storage & marketing company I use is in the 13th LD as is the agro-chemical company I do business with. My fuel distributor is
located in the 13th LD and when I need parts or equipment repairs, both 13th & 12th LD businesses help me out.

Our home church is in the 13th and many of my local friends live in the 13th. Major shopping trips mean we travel to towns
in the 13th such as Moses Lake and Ephrata or we drive though the 13th heading to Spokane. Basically, what I'm saying is that I'm part of a community. Though some live a short distance inside the
12th LD, that community is generally focused on and more connected to the issues of life in the 13th Legislative District. All these things I've mentioned make me believe that I can genuinely and
thoughtfully represent the voters of the 13th Legislative District. I hope my honest comments here will satisfy any concerns you have about the legitimacy of my candidacy for
appointment.

· State Revenue is way upright now and last biennium...not a money problem...a spending problem

The Bad

· Bills passed to help public sector unions continue to drain funds (often
involuntarily) from workers. We’ll see now how they try to “work-around” the US Supreme Court’s Janis Decision. One bill came about as a direct result of SEIU 775’s request to the governor.
GOP lawmakers rejected the “sham” process of moving it through the House and shutting down any GOP debate. GOP members all walked off the House floor and it passed 50-0

· No expansion of charter schools or school choice (WEA greatly influenced this)

· No vehicle tab relief on Sound Transit overcharges

· The Democrats used our tax dollars, which should’ve been put in the Budget Reserve
Account (Rainy Day Fund), to pay for the 1-year property tax relief (over State Treasurer & GOP objections) BAD PRECEDENT!

Just quickly, I’ll let you know some of my concerns as I look forward to possibly representing the 13th Legislative District in the 2019 Legislative
Session. I’ll list a few of them:

Increasing regulations on farms and small businesses

Continuing attacks on our 1st & 2nd amendments and the rights of the unborn and infirm and those who want to protect them

Water and property rights battles

Legislative thirst for ever-increasing taxes while state revenues are in a period of significant growth. In fact, I believe a .25-.50% decrease in our sales tax should be seriously considered
this session.

The need for increased vocational education as we have a growing labor market

Taxpayer funded institutions of higher education with imbalanced taxpayer representation in their curricula and professorships

My list could continue, but I think you can see I have a balance of concerns that I would studiously watch for and engage in as a legislator. I will certainly not
have a one or two issue focus at the expense of other important statewide and 13th Legislative District issues. I don’t have all the answers on these issues, but they need work and
vigilance and I’m willing to dig in and be a problem solver. We are in an unprecedented time of vitriol and distrust in politics. I’ve had to work with many folks in conflict over the years and I
believe I can approach these things with a firm hand and a listening ear for the betterment of our state and our district. If you are looking for a legislator who will reach across the aisle, keep in
mind there are issues I will not compromise on and there are other issues where some compromise will be appropriate and necessary.

Item 3 - The Sanctity of Human Life

I believe that life is sacred from the moment of conception until natural death. In light of
this, I believe that abortion is the killing of an innocent life no matter how that child was conceived and such termination should not be approved of in a civilized society. The only flexibility I
have on the matter is in the incredibly rare case of a medical diagnosis of near certain death for the mother if the child is carried to term. I'm not in agreement with abortion in this circumstance
if the mother knew this prior to the pregnancy and unprotected intercourse was a choice she made. If this is a post-pregnancy diagnosis, I would encourage prayerful consideration before termination
because I've seen what some call the miraculous and because it still would be the taking of an innocent life. I believe God should be her judge and not me if she decided on termination in that
circumstance. Some ask, "Well what about in the case of rape or incest?" I still believe abortion would be the taking of an innocent life. An abortion will not relieve the pain and trauma of those
circumstances as grievous as they are. In fact, it will add to that trauma. My deepest sympathy would go out to those in this kind of situation, but my heart would also grieve for the innocent life
who was killed. Two "wrongs" will never make a "right."

Obviously abortion is a difficult topic and so many seem to be able to come up with a
"reason" or "reasons" why this situation or that situation makes it allowable. We always have to come back to the point, and science backs this, that a human life has been created at conception and
that life deserves our protection not our abhorrence.

I'm very solid on this position and this topic is of deep concern to me. Far and away, we are
mostly killing millions of children in our country in the name of convenience and it is truly sickening and heartbreaking to me. I will do what I can to always support the sanctity of human life in
bills I sponsor or those that come before me if I'm appointed to the legislature.

Item 4 - "Why should I support you?"

First, I've placed my name into consideration for appointment because I love this state and this region. I think that much is required of those who have received much. As I've said before, this
place where I live is a great gift and I believe I should be a good steward of it, especially the land that I personally farm and manage. Additionally, I have a burden to enter more fully into
stewardship over my state and region. That burden has compelled me to offer myself to do just that as a state representative. To me, stewardship is very similar to the enduring ideal exemplified in
the motto of many a police force, "To Protect and to Serve."

I define stewardship as taking care of that which is doing well, but also repairing or restoring whatever’s broken or in decay. Some of the things I’m concerned about and believe are in need of
stewardship are the following:
1. Farms & orchards
2. Forests
3. Families
4. Ranches
5. Resources
6. Small businesses
7. Jobs

11. Private property rights
Some of these are doing pretty well right now, but some (I believe) are literally under attack. I’ve decided to try and be a person who will stand in the gap.

I was asked recently, “What qualifies you for this office?” I answered this way, “My core values.” My core values are born out of a Judeo-Christian ethic and traditional American values. One of
those core values is honesty. I’ll do my utmost to do what I say I’m going to do and I won’t lie to folks just to gain their approval. Another is integrity. I’m the same person in private (oh maybe a
little more corny) as I am out in public. I believe in hard work and I think it’s a core need of the human soul...to work and accomplish and be productive. I believe in thriftiness (government needs
much more of this). A motto I heard once, and I decided it applied to what my dad taught me on the farm, is this..."Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without." Yes, we need more of that from
our government. There are more, but I think you get the idea.

I’ll add this, my core values are not for sale...nor are my decisions. It seems way too many politicians have an unwritten “for sale” sign on their forehead. Their decisions are too often for
sale to the highest bidder (donation source or lobbyist). I think that’s very wrong.

In addition to these kinds of core values, I think I also have some wisdom. Wisdom, though, is more than intelligence. Wisdom is knowing how to use what we know appropriately. Knowledge
without wisdom, in my estimation, is pretty worthless. Hopefully those deciding who to appoint to the state house will endeavor to determine who among the candidates has the most wisdom and who best
represents the values of 13th LD citizens.

Also, I have a history of proven leadership in various circumstances throughout my life. Some of those circumstances were leading through the proverbial “fire.” There have been very difficult
leadership situations I’ve faced and I was able to lead folks into a much stronger and hope-filled direction.

Another addition to core values, is the trait of courage. Some have said I have courage. I really like this quote from C.S. Lewis, “Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of
every virtue at the testing point.” I know this position will “test” me, but I’m willing to take the shots because I believe it’s the right thing to do. W. Clement Stone (no relation as far as I
know) said this, “Have the courage to say no. Have the courage to face the truth. Do the right thing because it is right. These are the magic keys to living your life with integrity.” I
think that’s a great quote and I want to be a legislator of integrity. I’ll do my best to live up to that.

Item 5 - State Platform

I recommend you check out the Washington State Republican platform. It is a very conservative document. It can be found at the following web address: http://wsrp.org/platform2016/

I served on the platform committee of the Grant County Republican Central Committee and I'm happy to announce that several of the important items which were part of our platform were included in
the state platform committee. I support the state platform and think it is an excellent document. Congratulations to the platform committee on a job well done.

If you would like a copy of the Grant County Platform, just check out the party website.

Item 6- Is Government Too Big?

I was once asked a question something like this. "You say
government is too big. Which portions of government do you feel are too big? Also in specific terms, what exactly would you recommend reducing, eliminating, or leaving alone? Specifics, please. That
is what is really lacking in politics today and could distinguish you from others. Do you have any innovative ideas for how the public sector can better serve its
constituents?

Those are great questions. I'll attempt, in this article, to address them. When I referenced
(elsewhere on this site) the statement, “The bigger the government, the smaller the people,” I was generally speaking about the excess control, power, and intrusion that government so often exercises
over the lives of everyday citizens. Folks who are just trying to live, work and raise their families. We are told that our government is “of the people, for the people and by the people,” but so
many feel as if their government is a separate, far-away entity that is out of touch with the cares, concerns and reality of their lives. Remember that statement, “Hello, we’re the government and
we’re here to help you?” In this day and age, to many folks, it often seems more like, “Hello, we’re the government and we’re gonna tell you what to do.”

When I say that "government is too big," most probably think I'm referring to the size and scope of
government. Well, in many ways, I am. I think the size and scope, of both the state and the federal governments, has gotten too big. As to the size and scope of our state government, I will mention a
couple of things, but I’ll continue to evaluate this as I learn just what can be done to alleviate its continued growth. Each session of our legislature, it seems the other side of the aisle has lots
of ideas on how to grow government and what new taxes should be levied to pay for them. And often, they just create more government and don't find or provide any funding to pay for them (they're
called unfunded mandates). I want to help hold the line on that kind of governing so our state can be a place where businesses and families and schools and agriculture can prosper, not languish under
those kinds of policies.

So, for specifics, let me admit that I'll be on a sharp learning curve if I'm selected to be your
legislator. As I’ve said before, if you want a career politician, don’t vote for me. If elected, I’m sure I will get a quick education as soon as I get to Olympia. I’ve not been waiting until then to
start, but I’m sure I’ll have a better idea then on what I would recommend or propose as legislative remedies. Examples of some things I’m concerned about now include the following:

Non-legislative rules & regulations -- There are unelected bureaucrats and
boards making rules and regulations that were not approved by the legislature. Most of these are executive branch agencies given authority by statute to add to the Washington Administrative Code
(WAC's) Often these rules & regulations adversely affect the businesses and families of our state. One such rule came down from the Human Rights Commission in the recent past. That was the
controversial rule specifically prohibiting businesses and schools from creating a separate, gender neutral facility for use by those who prefer not to use the bathroom or locker room designated for
their gender. I haven’t figured out how an appointed group of folks on a “Human Rights Commission” can have that kind of authority and I would like to see that authority reined in a bit.

The governor & "climate change" -- Another example is the obsession our current
governor has with the “settled science” of anthropogenic climate change. In the past, he ordered the Department of Ecology to take serious action on climate change and to initiate a formal
rule-making process to cap carbon emissions here in Washington because he said he just couldn’t wait any longer for the legislature to act. In a statement he released at the time, Gov. Inslee said
“Carbon pollution and the climate change it causes pose a very real existential threat to our state. Farmers in the Yakima Valley know this. Shellfish growers on the coast know this. Firefighters
battling Eastern Washington blazes know this. And children suffering from asthma know this all too well and are right to question why Washington hasn’t acted to protect them.” First of all,
what’s “very real” to him certainly isn’t so to many climatologists. In fact, over 31,000 scientists in the U.S. have signed a petition disagreeing that it is "settled science."Secondly, I don’t believe most of the folks he mentioned “know this” and they’re most likely not asking that “why” question. So, because of controversial and “unsettled” science,
we've had unelected bureaucrats working on rules that would undoubtedly end up costing you and me a lot of money. I believe power like that needs to be overseen by elected, legislative officials that
really speak for the people. This past election, the Carbon Tax Initiative (I-1631) would've beaten them to the punch. Thank goodness Washington voters were wise enough to defeat it!

The Attorney General & climate change -- Continuing the topic of climate
change, we have a state attorney general that needs to settle down a bit. It's a shame that several years ago he joined with both state attornies general from various states and with environmental
groups as well to try to squash the free speech rights of fossil fuel businesses that question the reality of anthropogenic climate change. Their plan was to litigate (go after) these
businesses to make them accountable for the “impact” of climate change. I wonder who they would have sued during the warming period of the middle ages when Greenland was green? There weren’t too many
SUV’s burning fossil fuels back then. I'm not sure where their plans are now, but the questions remain, "Who will they go after next?" Possibly the elected officials, scientists or maybe
climatologists that aren’t buying in? Maybe even you and I?

Religious freedom -- Also concerning the attorney general, there is the issue of
him suing to deny the constitutionally protected religious liberty of citizens. The U.S. Constitution guarantees the citizens of the United States that, “Congress shall make no law respecting an
establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;…” The Washington State Constitution states in: “Article 1 Section 11 RELIGIOUS FREEDOM the following: “Absolute
freedom of conscience in all matters of religious sentiment, belief and worship, shall be guaranteed to every individual, and no one shall be molested or disturbed in person or property on account of
religion;…” Still the State of Washington’s attorney general, apparently with the governor’s approval, seems bent on forcing businesses owned by people of faith to violate that faith in their
business practices. It's a sad thing.

State control of land -- I believe there is too much state-owned land in Washington
(as well as Federally-owned). I believe that poor management of state-owned timber land, or lack of management, has made much of that land in eastern Washington very susceptible to wildfires. I would
be in favor of a moratorium on the State of Washington purchasing farm, grazing or forested land and I’m open to the consideration of individual counties controlling state-owned land within their
borders.

Oppressive & unenforceable regulations -- I’ve heard stories of government
auditing or regulatory agencies, when they find minor violations of rules, regulations or laws in business practices; instead of using that as a teaching/educational opportunity, immediately levying
heavy fines or disciplinary actions against businesses; businesses which are extremely valuable to our citizens, our state’s economy, and our job market. An unverified story (that I was unable to
verify) would be a perfect example. A quick synopsis is that a business was fined multiple thousands of dollars for missing one check box on a reporting form. The business and the jobs they created
left the state. They’d had enough. If true, this certainly could have been handled differently. It is absolutely true, though, that I hear complaints all the time of the hassles and costs that
excessive regulations, etc. cause our business community. As an example, one business regulation that affects us here on the farm has to do with the records that are supposed to be kept on any
pesticide spraying if you spray over 1 acre during a calendar year. Is it really reasonable out here in the dryland wheat areas that a farmer on his 4-wheeler spraying field edges and around power
line towers, etc. should have to come in at night and figure out how to record the exact location of every field edge on, likely, hundreds of acres in different fields (usually spread out over
several miles) and know what the wind speeds, wind directions and temperatures were at all times during the day in all the places that he sprayed? Who makes these rules up and have they ever actually
applied pesticide? Are they just trying to provide work for commercial applicators because farmers will give up trying to do this job themselves. This is an example of busy work and paperwork
that could be eased. Small businesses are the life-blood of our economy. These businesses create family wage jobs to our citizens. Jobs which must be valued and protected. I’d like to
seriously look at changing the atmosphere that creates burdensome regulations and rules.

Example of an oppressive/silly law -- And, while I’m on regulations that seem
ridiculous, did you know that if you accidentally forget to sign your car’s registration when you put your tabs on; you can receive a $100+ fine. Now I know there are some law enforcement officers
that would just have you sign it after they verify your identity, but why is this such an offense. Check their I.D., for goodness sake, and have them sign it. In my mind, it’s legal robbery to give a
ticket for something so insignificant. That’s another example of government over-reach.

State-mandated testing -- I also think there’s way too much state-mandated testing
of our K-12 students. There are way too many state and federally required tests conducted and required for graduation in our public schools. It’s like teaching your child to swim with a scuba
weight-belt around their waist. We can’t give our children the highest quality education possible, when we are constantly testing them. Not to mention the incredible cost of all these tests that
could be going toward educating our children. And, to top it off, the state can’t even settle on which tests to use. Should it be the WASL or the MSP or the End of Course exams or now Common Core has
ushered in the era of Smarter Balanced testing. When my 19-year-old was in school, she participated in all those different tests. Students are diverted, sometimes for weeks, from their normal
curriculum just to prepare for these tests. Often, teachers are unable to get through the planned curriculum they are supposed to be working on. Somehow this has to change. And while I’m on
the topic of education, I think Washington State needs to opt out of Common Core. I know the bribing will be hard to turn down, but that program has a lot of negative baggage. I believe, by the way,
that’s a topic every parent should investigate for themselves.

Excessive Taxation -- The tax revenue coming into the state coffers is
significantly up over the past few years and is projected to continue that direction. It seems many in government want to find a way to spend every dime of it and at the feel we need to increase
taxes. We do not need any more taxes in Washington. In fact, I think we could find areas where taxes could be reduced. Maybe it's time to reduce the state sales tax. Maybe it time to make the B&O
tax actually fair. We need to stop taxing our small businesses on their gross income with the B&O. I want to work on proposals that will slow or stop spending growth and bring tax relief to our
citizens. Finally, I want to help bring all this talk about a state income tax to a dead end. We should not impose any kind of a state income tax on the citizens of Washington.

Now, can I do something about these sorts of things as a state representative? I certainly hope so. I
am a candidate because I want to make a difference. If I’m naive about what I can accomplish, so be it. I will go anyway and do my best to help make government work for the good of the citizens. It’s
not supposed to be the other way around.